Personal finance

As a new college application season gets underway, the price tag for higher education is in the spotlight. Now, above all else, students and families are concerned about the rising cost and the student debt that often goes along with it — without considering the schools with the most generous aid packages. To that end,

Donated clothes for those affected by the Maui fires are stored at Honokawai Beach Park in western Maui, Hawaii, on Aug. 14, 2023. Yuki Iwamura | Afp | Getty Images As the Hawaiian island of Maui struggles to recover from the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history, many Americans are asking, “How can I help?”

Despite persistent predictions that a recession is imminent, the U.S. economy has fared surprisingly well. The first half of 2023 notched two quarters of positive growth, while a strong labor market and resilient consumer spending bodes well for the months to come. Gross domestic product, which tracks the overall health of the economy, rose more

Zamrznutitonovi | Istock | Getty Images Many Gen Z and millennial couples are moving in together before tying the knot to save money, but that doesn’t often mean a 50-50 split when it comes to expenses. Roughly 3 in 5 unmarried couples in the U.S. live with their partners, according to a report by the

Gatot Adriansyah | Istock | Getty Images The share of federal education debt going to graduate students is at its highest point in history, a new report by the U.S. Department of Education finds. Alarmingly, as graduate school borrowing increases, wages for those with an advanced degree haven’t risen nearly as much. “A closer look

Hawaiians are still reeling from the deadliest U.S. fire in over a century. The extent of the losses in life and property in Maui are still unknown. Early estimates from the Pacific Disaster Center and the Federal Emergency Management Agency report that more than 2,200 structures have been damaged or destroyed, 86% of which were residential.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act into law on Aug. 14, 1935. FPG | Archive Photos | Getty Images Social Security has reached a milestone — its 88th birthday. On Aug. 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. With that law, a social insurance program to

The Biden administration released new guidance Monday on how colleges can “lawfully achieve a diverse student body” in the wake of the Supreme Court‘s ruling striking down affirmative action. In a “Dear Colleague” letter and a questions and answers page, the U.S. Department of Education outlined what policies and practices for promoting a diverse student body remain

Franckreporter | E+ | Getty Images People can easily fall into “false financial comparisons,” a scenario in which we believe we can afford the same lifestyles people we perceive as “just like us” have, said author Manisha Thakor in her new book, “MoneyZen: The Secret to Finding Your ‘Enough.'” A certified financial planner, Thakor noticed

Rome ranked second on a recent list of best travel destinations for a digital detox. Piola666 | E+ | Getty Images Despite inflation, Gen Z and millennials are determined to travel this summer, even if it means spending a bit more. While almost two-thirds, or 73%, of people are willing to pay extra fees for

As Americans increasingly lean on credit to make ends meet, new reports show signs of potential problems ahead. Total credit card debt surpassed $1 trillion for the first time ever, the New York Federal Reserve reported Tuesday. Credit card balances are up almost 20% from a year ago, according to a separate quarterly credit industry insights

By nearly every measure, Americans are financially strained. Yet, we’re coming up with new ways to justify expensive purchases. The latest way, coined “girl math,” breaks down the price of an item by the cost per wear. If you use an expensive handbag every day for a year, for example, then it might only set

Astra Taylor Source: Isabella De Maddalena In 2014, Astra Taylor co-founded the Debt Collective, the first union for debtors. Since then, one of her main goals has been to get student debt canceled. The last year or so has been bittersweet: First, in what felt like a major victory, President Joe Biden announced that he’d

Enes Evren Investors piled into Series I bonds amid record yields, and some are now eyeing an exit for higher-interest alternatives. But redeeming I bonds can be tricky, experts say. After reaching 9.62% annual interest in May 2022, I bond yields have declined with falling inflation, reaching 4.3% interest for new purchases from May through

Djelics | E+ | Getty Images Income-hungry investors have long flocked to mortgage-backed real estate investment trusts — and why not? Many of them pay a handsome, double-digit dividend. But such vehicles haven’t done so well lately. That’s because when interest rates rise and yields balloon, their valuations tend to suffer, which is what happened

Jacob Wackerhausen | Istock | Getty Images With other household debt on the rise, the restart of student loan payments in less than two months may cause financial hardship for many Americans. The pause on federal student loan payments is one of the last pandemic-era relief measures still in effect, but the bills are expected

Morsa Images | E+ | Getty Images Some experts have reversed recession predictions and embraced a soft landing for the economy as the Federal Reserve continues to fight inflation. The rosier outlook is prompting talks between advisors and their clients, including possible shifts for investment portfolios. “A potential recession has been in the news since

D3sign | Moment | Getty Images Annual inflation rose slower than expected in July, a welcome sign for consumers who have been grappling with high costs. But many Americans are still feeling the sting of essential expenses like shelter and energy.    The consumer price index rose 0.2% for the month and 3.2% from one year

Collectively, Americans now owe more than $1 trillion on credit cards. Total credit card debt rose nearly 5%, or roughly $45 billion, in the second quarter to a new high of $1.03 trillion, according to a new report on household debtfrom the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Although delinquency rates are still low by

The Mega Millions jackpot grew to more than $1.6 billion on Aug. 9, 2023. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images There’s finally a winner for the massive Mega Millions jackpot — but the lucky ticketholder may face unexpected pitfalls, experts say. A single ticket sold in Florida matched all six numbers on Tuesday night, marking the